WEST YORKSHIRE POLICE have warned Graham Linehan not to contact Stephanie Hayden, a transgender activist, after she made a complaint to authorities about him.
Stephanie’s complaint was motivated by Graham’s refusal to refer to her as ‘she’ during their Twitter exchanges, in addition to the fact he ‘deadnamed’ her by referring to her by her former names.
According to The Guardian, the creator of Father Ted and Black Books said he had no intention of contacting Stephanie following an online exchange they had on the subject of gender identity.
The police asked me to stop contacting someone I had no intention of contacting. It was a bit like asking me to never contact Charlie Sheen.
Stephanie, who reportedly gave a statement to police over the course of five hours, posted a message on Twitter in the aftermath
This has been a difficult week for me. Transphobia in any form is unacceptable. Now the police matter has been resolved anything else is between the parties. Thank you to the transgender community (and beyond) for your continued support.
Stephanie, who transitioned in 2007, is said to be pursuing civil proceedings, accusing Graham of harassment, defamation and misuse of private information while Graham may be intending to take legal action against Stephanie.
Graham’s Twitter account is currently private.
